Chameleons : Classic or Dud

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With a new album due this year it's a good time to discuss the Chameleons.

An emotional inferno, or second rate Joy Div/ EATB copyists?

A guitar band of thrilling beauty, or sub-Goth trundles with bad production?

I'm somewhere towards classic, but not without reservations. More later.

― Dr. C, Thursday, 15 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Classic, my second fave band of all time behind MBV, dedicated member of the on-line mailing list for about a decade, etc. etc. I will say that I think Mark Burgess' lyrics aren't as successful to me as other fans make out -- "Swamp Thing" succeeds almost in spite of them, being generally cryptic throughout, for instance. But many Chams fans I know often speak of a key lyric that has often helped them through tough times, so it might come down to individual appreciation and meaning there!

Beyond that, though, I don't think I would change a thing about them. Seeing the original line-up back together again late last year was an honor and a privilege -- one of the best shows I've ever seen. I have every last dug-out-of-the-archive recording, just about all the various solo and side projects, and await the new album with bated breath. Soon, soon...

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 15 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A spectre is haunting I Love Music....the spectre of 1980s indie bands!

Anyway, I'm still not convinced by them. They're somewhat of a guilty pleasure - occasionally they'll hit on a nice guitar figure and their songs have a po-faced drive to them which can be really compelling (cf: "Swamp Thing", "Tears"). But the lyrics never move me - this wouldn't be a problem, but the amount of chest-beating effort that seems to go into putting them across irritates me given that so little is actually being communicated.

I think the Triffids did the same thing a great deal better when they had a mind to.

― Tom, Thursday, 15 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I know what you mean Tom and without anyone having the balls to start The Smiths: classic or dud thread, I really want to but i'm afraid my mailbox will overflow if i do, before you know there'll be theological discussions if "How Soon is Now" was better than "Hand in a Glove". ;) Erm...on-topic again, I vaguely remember The Chameleons bot only by name, so now definitive C or D...although accusations of bad production look rather promising.

― Omar, Thursday, 15 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Classic. Yeah the lyrics are a mite po-faced, but think of it as part of the whole performance, like the Buggles-voices on _Discovery_. Actually Burgess' lyrics aren't bad at all really. I think "Swamp Thing" is a weaker example as it's so grandstanding, phenomenal tune notwithstanding; try _What Does It All Mean? Basically_, which has a really nice nostalgia/regret theme that's a tad more understanded.

Anyway, the lyrics are the least of this band. We're talking TOONS with TWO GUITARS, and lots of subtle *studio trickery*. Yeah! The fact that they perhaps anticipated a lot of awful bands (Coldplay, etc.) can be balanced by the fact that they also anticipated a number of good ones (House Of Love, Ride, Kitchens Of Distinction, Puressence, "Bends"-era Radiohead).

Tom you have a point about The Triffids; I think _Born Sandy Devotional_ especially is *better* at doing what The Chameleons were sort of doing, but I still like The Chameleons more as a band.

― Tim, Thursday, 15 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Omar - Any Smiths-bashing you want to start, I'll back you up.

The Chameleons... based on 1 or 2 songs I last heard 13 or 14 years ago, a big dud. That kind of indie stadium-rock smells vaguely like a U2 without songs or charisma for people who think they're too cool for U2. I'm being unfair, sure, but most of their fans seem to be a)anglophiles or b)goths - two strikes against them right there. Unless you're Joy Division, those odds are practically insurmountable.

― Patrick, Thursday, 15 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I find that the Chameleons often walk a thin line between mannered bludgeoning and thrilling power. When it works ('Up the Down Escalator', 'Thursday's Child', 'Nostalgia') it's usually because they coupled the energy to a good tune.

The production is often dodgy, especially the second album. It's difficult to make something with so many layers of flange and echo sound crisp and driving. It often sounds like there are some great ideas trying to get out of the soup. I have all the albums on vinyl, so I'd be interested in hearing whether CD sound has improved the sound or not. I'd exempt 'Strange Times' from this criticism - it sounds just fine.

Burgess's lyrics aren't great - too much 'Pleasure and Pain' / 'Heaven and Hell' cliches for me, but it's not a big deal as I don't really care unless lyrics are REALLY bad.

I probably play Strange Times more than any other Chameleons album, although I have a soft spot for 'The Fan and the Bellows'. Some of the pre-first album tracks really motor (better drummer).

I've spent a lot of time picking holes here, but I think the Chameleons were an admirable band who could've achieved a lot more. It will be interesting to hear them in 2001.

Anybody remember the Reegs?

― Dr. C, Friday, 16 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A better drummer than John Lever? Okay, *here* we differ.

I've heard the U2 conundrum before -- the fact that I think the Chameleons do right what U2 ended up doing wrong (insanely, horribly wrong, though I'll allow for some of the singles and B-sides -- a minor percentage out of an ever more annoying career) perhaps betrays my hand. ;-) That some people think they're too 'cool' for U2 may be the case (and I'm sure is), but I couldn't give a fuck about cool. I give a fuck about the music, and on that standard, Chameleons yay, U2 boo.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

To me, Ned, Lever's drumming is a weakness, although he is fine on 'Strange Times'. Instead of propelling them forward, his style seems to often leave them jogging on the spot. He's not the most agile of drummers. Not a big deal though.

― Dr. C, Saturday, 17 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Odd -- I consider Lever's general approach to be a near perfect combination of complexity and propulsion (with an admitted debt on his part to the drummer of the Comsat Angels -- can't recall the feller's name right now). The two live shows I've seen with him backing Burgess (one solo, one with full Chams line-up) pretty much confirmed it.

I should also say that I'm a total sucker for the production on _What Does Everything Mean?_. Thick, tangled, shimmering -- can't say no.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 17 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I can't think of a finer way to spend an evening than a transatlantic debate about the merits of early 1980's drummers, but I always was sad. Mic Glaisher is the Comsats man - and yes, a fine drummer. Good live - I once got hit by a flying stick of his. Anyone looking for some fearsome samples should listen to his work on 'Sleep No More'. Maybe someone has.

― Dr. C, Sunday, 18 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

_Sleep No More_? Brilliant album, etc. At this rate we should start talking about the Sound.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 19 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Sound! Three great albums (the first three) and a good live album. Never liked their later stuff - a little bland and lacking fire. I wish they'd followed the direction suggested by 'All Fall Down' - a few more risks would have been good.

A band that truly deserved more success - if they had been a little bit more fashionable it might have happened for them. In around 1982/3 I think they were just a killer song away from a big hit. Perhaps the right support slot would have done it? Perhaps if they'd have been from Dublin or Manchester instead of Wimbledon? Perhaps with the right haircut....? Aw, who cares? They were great anyway.

I met Adrian a few times before he died - he was using the same rehearsal rooms with his band - and he was a genuinely nice guy, happy to talk about his days in The Sound. He was looking forward to all the albums coming out on CD.

― Dr. C, Tuesday, 20 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two years pass...

hmmm, this was a group that i missed the first time round. i really wonder why -- maybe because they broke up just as i was becoming aware of indie music (in 1986), or maybe because i saw this album cover and feared the worst?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000006XJ2.01._PE_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

the album cover sucks, but they're classic ... then again, i just discovered them!

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Monday, 20 October 2003 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Man, I like that album cover. Much of it matches the music brilliantly, a mysterious nostalgia. But then again, as my previous posts on the thread have indicated, I'm quite biased.

The most recent album, Why Call It Anything -- given a miserably botched release in the States, it was downright painful to see how practically nobody at the recent shows last year here knew about it -- shows that they still have got it, but in a generally more quieter and contemplative way than before (they can and do still rip out the older stuff fantastically, though). There were some rumblings earlier this year that the band had fallen out again, but those seem to have been quelled for now? Hopefully so -- the solo show by Mark back in June was excellent as always, but it's all about all four of them playing together. Even one missing member in the lineup is really noticeable.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 20 October 2003 17:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I think they HAVE still fallen out. Just after time they were supposed to play in Greece (April?) a massive bitch-fest between Mark and Dave appeared on their message forums; http://forums.wishville.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?s=3358c4af6caea252313acd93a162ba3c&forumid=29

Which was rather grim :-/

Just had a quick peek at the forum and, noticably, there are threads about different solo things... but no 'Chameleons' news.

:-(

― Muppet Boy, Monday, 20 October 2003 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Hrm hrm hrm. Unfortunate. I had heard otherwise.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 20 October 2003 23:15 (twenty-one years ago)

seven months pass...

What the hex - revived due to this shortlived thread:
Gratuitous Chameleons Appreciation Thread.

I think I've listened to those first three albums so damn much that if they ever lose the masters, they could probably press up fresh copies just using coronal sections of my brain.

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 17 June 2004 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I was thinking of them last night actually, due to being brought up in an AIM chat. While I know all the songs even more backwards and forwards than ever before, I think, I don't always listen to them all that often now. That said, the semi-acoustic Never Ending Now album from late 2002 was quite lovely, and if that is how the band ended up bowing out one more time, there were worse ways to go.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 17 June 2004 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)

All the Chameleons threads are really short!
I was looking at Chameleons "Swamp Thing".. best song ever ?, and I will throw my hat into the pile of those who understand that "Soul In Isolation" OWNS.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 17 June 2004 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I am listening to Looking Inwardly now...and it's making me very happy!

― ddb (ddb), Thursday, 17 June 2004 14:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I was a huge Chameleons fan in '85 or so. But I really don't find myself pulling them out now. I hate to say "dated" but there are other things I was crazy about in 1985 that I'm far more likely to pull out.

― Bimble (bimble), Thursday, 17 June 2004 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

A band I discovered because of ILM (and Ned, I guess). I've heard 2 albums now. Strange Times is the better of the 2 I've heard so far. Just full of great guitar moments. "Seriocity" and the 2nd version of "Tears" definitely do it for me.

― kickitcricket (kickitcricket), Thursday, 17 June 2004 16:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess what I mean is not so much that they're dated, but that I've overplayed them. I agree Strange Times is the one to get. I agree with Barry that Soul In Isolation "OWNS" but the problem is I've played it so many times it doesn't own like it used to. I thought the reunion album was terribly disappointing except for that one track (an instrumental?) that had a kind of Arabic feel to it, if I recall correctly. The album I mean is Why Call It Anything...Ned confused me when he talked about something called Never Ending Now. I don't think I've never heard of that.

― Bimble (bimble), Thursday, 17 June 2004 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Chameleons on the AMG -- where I go on about just about everything, including Neverending Now.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 17 June 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll check it out when I get home, thanks Ned. (right now I keep having to sneak back here quickly when the boss isn't looking ;)).

One more thing on this topic: I'd like to defend Reg's cover art for their albums. I've always been impressed by how much detail and care and hard work he puts into the sleeves. Unlike today's computer graphics where you can just slap something together in no time.

― Bimble (bimble), Thursday, 17 June 2004 19:45 (twenty-one years ago)

but the problem is I've played it so many times it doesn't own like it used to
That's what it's like for me with "Swamp Thing". However, it used to get loads of alternative radio and club play, so I had several more years to have it wear on me. Whereas I didn't hear the rest of "Strange Times" until the mid-90's.

I was thinking about starting a thread along the lines of "Albums that are great but you're bored sick of the singles/most popular tracks" (this occured to me while listening to "Disintegration" recently). But I couldn't think of any other good examples at the time.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 17 June 2004 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree with you Ned. It always kind of pissed me off that people who were so completely ga-ga about The Edge's too-much-delay swampy guitar sound never seemed to notice that Reg was doing it better and without being part of a load of pompous asses.

― martin m. (mushrush), Thursday, 17 June 2004 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I have one Chameleons album that I literally have not played since. literally, '88 or '89. A friend told me they were the greatest, so I bought "What Does Anything Mean? Basically," listened to it twice, and never listened again...

Until now....

Sounds better than I remember...

Anything know this album? 'Intrigue in Tangiers" sounds good. Some of it sounds like Breakfast Club music (the movie, not the band), I'm sorry to say. Very '80s and synthy.

― shookout (shookout), Friday, 18 June 2004 00:08 (twenty-one years ago)

That was their synthiest album but it would be a bit of a stretch to call it synth-pop. Almost closer to neo-prog than that (though not really that either!).

Maybe The Church's mid-eighties synth work is roughly comparable?

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 18 June 2004 00:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I've found a lot of Church/Chameleons crossover among fans -- not universally but it's pretty strong. There's a similar affection, for lack of a better word, which seems to tie a lot of people together there, a similar sense of...well, Beatles-via-glam, but less one that emphasizes good times/party hearty as it does some kind of dreaminess. If you look at the two studio covers of Bowie the Chameleons have done, "John I'm Only Dancing" was far more of a jokey goof than anything else the band recorded, but "Moonage Daydream" was sung and designed for something serious.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 18 June 2004 01:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, it's good to be home and read the rest of this thread in peace.

I was delighted to read they'd covered "Moonage Daydream" - I do believe that's my favorite Bowie song and I'm not a huge Bowie fan. I'll have to check that album out for sure.

The production on What Does Anything Mean...I'm glad someone mentioned that. I can see how that would totally sound wrong to someone's ears who hadn't heard it at the time (much the way I feel about Loop's Heaven's End in retrospect). The thickness sounded really great at the time, it just worked. Although I do think Strange Times would be the one to get if you hadn't any Chameleons at all, What Does Anything Mean has always seemed like a more consistently great album. Also considering the production of it, I find it interesting in retrospect that there was no such thing as shoegazing yet, no frame of reference!

But seriously, I get so tired of people saying Chameleons are 'goth' (much the way they naively say that of The Church, a band I'm sorry to say have meant a lot more to me over the years than Chameleons) and lazy U2 comparisons. I remember asking Mark Gardner, lead singer of Ride, once if he liked Chameleons, and he mentioned something about "eh...college rock" or some such dismissive thing. I think a lot of people just don't understand the Chameleons, because they really can't be easily compared to anyone else. The Chameleons are just their own thing, in my opinion. I don't mean to say they were radical pioneers, necessarily, but they just had a style that was doomed not to ever fit comfortably inside any of the convenient categories of fashion.

I agree there seems to be a crossover with Church fans as well, Ned. I was thinking about this not too long ago, about how there's just a certain audience that have certain bands in common like that. Come to think of it, The Church is also another band difficult for a lot of people to understand or put in categories, while not saying they were radical pioneers, either.

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 18 June 2004 03:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember asking Mark Gardner, lead singer of Ride, once if he liked Chameleons, and he mentioned something about "eh...college rock" or some such dismissive thing.

HE'S one to talk.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 18 June 2004 04:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha, yeah. Exactly. Seriously, that was probably my longest post ever on ILM. I'm almost embarassed, but at least I got it out of my system!

Another band that occurs to me to fall in the category of "doomed outsiders of fashion": Adorable. Do you like them Ned? Oh, I know, I know...do a search. Frankly, I can't be bothered at the moment, don't mind me, I've obviously had a few drinks and plan on departing here for another website soon, anyway...

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 18 June 2004 04:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Doesn't Gareth love Adorable?

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 18 June 2004 05:07 (twenty-one years ago)

weird that this thread got revived tonight. i was listening to coldplay's "moses" just now (i know, i know, but i heard it on an in-flight radio station last week and it caught my ear) and thinking that it sounded like the chameleons (and u2, and echo and the bunnymen, and maybe a bit of pablo honey-era radiohead). was gonna mention this to ilm in some context or another.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 18 June 2004 05:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh Goody! Why this is just delightful! Now I have full license to admit (on a Chameleons thread no less) that Coldplay's "Moses" OWNZ!!!! Come out of the closet you British music devotees!!!~! It's now or never!

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 18 June 2004 06:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Damnit I'm putting on that song right this minute. It's been too long.
Thanks Cindy.

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 18 June 2004 06:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Always thought 'Yellow' sounded very chameleonesque whilst on certain substances!

― college rocker, Friday, 18 June 2004 17:22 (twenty-one years ago)

The Fan and Bellows compilation is a good place to start listening to them. I thought as the albums progressed the music got better and the lyrics worse (talking about Barclays loans yeuuch!)Production on 'What does anything mean? basically' is a problem if you don't like goth.

Incidentially I went to a huge goth night in leeds a couple of years ago where they played Swamp Thing and it rammed the dancefloor!

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Friday, 18 June 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Coldplay wants to sound like all those bands...and fails. But I digress. Adorable are quite fantastic.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 18 June 2004 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Classic. And my love for the Chameleons is heightened by the fact that my first concert I ever attended was a Chameleons show with the Mighty Lemon Drops opening in a small cafeteria on the campus of the University of Buffalo in 1986.

I also remember an art project I had in high school where I had to redesign an album cover - I chose Scrpit of the Bridge. I used the Union Jack and thought it was pretty cool, but it certainly wasn't.

― metfigga (metfigga), Friday, 18 June 2004 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

The peel sessions disc OWNS. Why oh why is this out of print?!

― JC (JC A.), Friday, 18 June 2004 19:40 (twenty-one years ago)

seven months pass...

I just bought a used LP of The Sun and the Moon's s/t album. Mark Burgess and John Lever of the Chameleons plus guitarists Andy Clegg and Andy Whitaker--it's all very good, all very Chameleons-like. Anyone else heard this?

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 13 February 2005 21:00 (twenty years ago)

Yes. It was great. Haven't heard it in a long, long time though.

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Sunday, 13 February 2005 21:12 (twenty years ago)

Rockaction (the ILMer) just convinced me to buy Strange Times, and (aside from being arguably the cheapest worthwhile full-length album on the market) it's pretty good. I don't think it sky-rocketed into my top 10 of all time or anything, but it might be enough to get me to check out some of their other work. "Tears" alone is worth the price of the record... $6.99, that is.

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Sunday, 13 February 2005 21:27 (twenty years ago)

There's a Sun and the Moon CD out (and now I think out of print) -- The Great Escape -- which collects everything that band did, with the exception of their Alice Cooper cover "Elected," though that ended up on a recent Mark Burgess compilation.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 13 February 2005 21:41 (twenty years ago)

Ned, I'm surprised you didn't give Strange Times the big FIVE STARS on allmusic. Would they not let you? Does it have to be an album that everyone considers to be a, er, masterpiece? (Someone should also explain why Fear of Music gets dissed.)

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Sunday, 13 February 2005 21:52 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

Listening to Script of the Bridge for the first time in a while and it's all beautiful all over again.

"If this is the stuff dreams are made of
No wonder I feel like I'm floating on air..."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 20 March 2006 20:03 (nineteen years ago)

Great call for a gray Monday, Ned!

Classic, classic, classic.

The guitar riff on the track you quoted is amazing and timeless (and just as influential today as any JD riff).

(Saw them a few years ago at Kintting Factory- they still sound great!)

― Giles Manius (jsoulja), Monday, 20 March 2006 20:33 (nineteen years ago)

Skipping 352 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

see that's the thing: he is an outstanding performer. i saw him play one of his post-reunion pre-chamsvox pick up band gigs and it was fucking awesome. he played a bit acoustic before the proper set and he was taking requests for the sun and the moon songs, for fucks sake.

like i said, the guy seems to genuinely love his fans as much as they love him. and he has a gigantic ego, so he loves the attention it brings.

― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Saturday, 9 October 2021 19:37 (three years ago)

also i didn't mean that ego thing in a demeaning way. don't get me wrong or whatever.

― things repeat forever and there never is a remedy (Austin), Saturday, 9 October 2021 19:46 (three years ago)

one year passes...

Anyone seen them on the current tour? I'm thinking of going next week. Doubt I'd stay for the Mission but eight or so Chameleons songs still seems worth it.

― soup of magpies (geoffreyess), Sunday, 24 September 2023 18:41 (two years ago)

I saw them in June if that counts as 'the current tour'. Very enjoyable! Mark was on excellent form - charming and combative.

― giraffe, Monday, 25 September 2023 06:49 (two years ago)

ah thanks, that seals it

― soup of magpies (geoffreyess), Wednesday, 27 September 2023 15:16 (two years ago)

Saw 'em a few weeks ago, had a really good time! The Mission were fun too.

― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Wednesday, 27 September 2023 15:18 (two years ago)

five months pass...

Playing the US in August

― from a prominent family of bassoon players (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 2 March 2024 01:56 (one year ago)

Sweet. Still kicking myself for missing them last year, was utterly shocked how cheap it was and how small the venue was. Straight up injustice.

― brimstead, Saturday, 2 March 2024 03:58 (one year ago)

Oh wow, and they're playing Strange Times. I might have to find a way to be in... Kansas City?

― soup of magpies (geoffreyess), Sunday, 3 March 2024 03:04 (one year ago)

They were so good last fall, just wish the set had been longer, esp. after finding out they'd ended up headlining the night before. Could've listened to Mark riff on popular songs in the middle of "Soul in Isolation" for at least another hour.

― soup of magpies (geoffreyess), Sunday, 3 March 2024 03:05 (one year ago)

two months pass...

so.

uhhh....

https://i.imgur.com/fQ1sgL0.jpeg

― interstellar anthropologist+music philosopher, (Austin), Saturday, 1 June 2024 07:21 (one year ago)

music's fine. that cover though. nothanks.jpg

― interstellar anthropologist+music philosopher, (Austin), Saturday, 1 June 2024 07:22 (one year ago)

yikes!

― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Saturday, 1 June 2024 08:05 (one year ago)

It is truly fucking bizarre that this band, which had some of the most distinct/strange/wonderful cover art thanks to one of its core guitarists -- the one still with the band! -- went this route.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 1 June 2024 22:04 (one year ago)

you know that annoying batman thing about you either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain?

feels v relevant here.

― interstellar anthropologist+music philosopher, (Austin), Saturday, 1 June 2024 23:49 (one year ago)

Hope Reg didn't create that cover (in either sense). Song is actually not bad though

― Vinnie, Sunday, 2 June 2024 12:53 (one year ago)

search: "ever after (live from the edge)" (2022)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0yVmllAl6g

everybody's crazy.

― interstellar anthropologist+music philosopher, (Austin), Sunday, 2 June 2024 16:35 (one year ago)

four months pass...

Anyone digging the EP that came out yesterday?

I think it's great actually! The Chameleons are a band that kind of operated on my periphery and I don't own anything from them. Where should I start?

There is a compilation but it's out of print and expensive.

― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Saturday, 12 October 2024 21:02 (eleven months ago)

My personal favourite is their second album, the clunkily-titled What Does Anything Mean Basically? but their third one, Strange Times might be the popular choice as it contains their biggest song ('Swamp Thing') and one of their most beloved epics ('Soul In Isolation'). But others might say the debut, Script Of The Bridge - 'Second Skin' off that is perhaps their finest moment?

― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Saturday, 12 October 2024 21:10 (eleven months ago)

I'm one of those others, 'Second Skin' for me. Script Of The Bridge is all i need.

― stirmonster, Saturday, 12 October 2024 21:40 (eleven months ago)

Yeah start with Script, play it loud!

― brimstead, Saturday, 12 October 2024 21:55 (eleven months ago)

Strange Times is definitely the standout to me but those first three are all strong

― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 12 October 2024 21:56 (eleven months ago)

the one problem with Strange Times is that everything on the second side of it after Swamp Thing feels a lot smaller than the material on side one. It's very lopsided. They're not bad songs at all, and tbh they've been dear friends of mine for most of my life now, but they do lack the wow factor

― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Saturday, 12 October 2024 22:07 (eleven months ago)

The new EP I look at askance. But then again I’ve been clear about where I stand on things pre/post Lever’s passing. The core three studio albums (and the reunion one too!) all live in my heart still, but in ways I feel all my appreciation is permanently retrospective rather than active.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 12 October 2024 23:36 (eleven months ago)

Strange Times post-"Swamp Thing" still equally massive to me, though in a more intimate way for sure. "Seriocity" is one of their most beautiful songs. Perfect album basically, though I usually call What Does Anything Mean my favorite, esp. if it's the version with "In Shreds"/"Nostalgia" as bonus tracks.

Hadn't heard there was another new EP but cool to see they recorded "Nathan's Phase" for it, probably the non-album song I've listened to the most.

― moral ziosk (geoffreyess), Sunday, 13 October 2024 04:30 (eleven months ago)

Oh wow, and they're playing Strange Times. I might have to find a way to be in... Kansas City?

turns out I'm doing this, as they ended up rescheduling that show for next month

― moral ziosk (geoffreyess), Sunday, 13 October 2024 04:32 (eleven months ago)

Strange Times might be in my ten favorite albums ever, I love all of it. The two before it I like individual songs but not the whole, and I've tried with both many times

― Vinnie, Sunday, 13 October 2024 11:38 (eleven months ago)

I find the second album heavily frontloaded

― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 13 October 2024 18:15 (eleven months ago)

no way, "one flesh" and "home is where the heart is" are top tier

― c u (crüt), Sunday, 13 October 2024 18:45 (eleven months ago)

did any other post-punk bands use a whirly tube?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aJ36-TlPD4

― c u (crüt), Sunday, 13 October 2024 18:52 (eleven months ago)

I agree with Robert, I’ve tried many times

― brimstead, Sunday, 13 October 2024 21:05 (eleven months ago)

xp yep!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeMAR9xTV58

― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Sunday, 13 October 2024 21:10 (eleven months ago)

seven months pass...

https://www.stereogum.com/2307808/the-chameleons-announce-first-new-album-in-24-years-arctic-moon/news/

― nxd, Wednesday, 14 May 2025 00:42 (four months ago)

I saw this version of the band in October, they sounded great. New stuff was solid, we'll see if Mark has his songwriting mojo back after a very long time.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 14 May 2025 20:05 (four months ago)

I don’t know this band at all but my friend just got us tickets to see them in October.

― Bee OK, Friday, 16 May 2025 17:52 (four months ago)

wait... for real, bee? chams seem like a wheelhouse band for you!

― Constance Mischievous (Austin), Friday, 16 May 2025 19:13 (four months ago)

Yeah, Bee you should love them!! Check out Script of The Bridge pronto!!

― brimstead, Friday, 16 May 2025 23:23 (four months ago)

I agree with Robert, I’ve tried many times

I was wrong, btw, I tried once more and really only have problems with “looking inwardly” (major keys, ick) and the synth intro. Not so front loaded as I thought.

― brimstead, Friday, 16 May 2025 23:30 (four months ago)

She is very surprised I don't know them either. Part of the reason she bought tickets for us to go. I cop it up to not knowing everything and there are gaps. Thanks for the rec I definitely what to get to know them before this gig.

― Bee OK, Sunday, 18 May 2025 02:48 (four months ago)

i'm quietly very excited, but also very cautious, for this band to be releasing new music. in an effort to adjust expectations for something competently chameleons-adjacent, but still not quite the real deal, i'm revisiting yves altana's unofficial self-released live album from his time touring with mark. it's mostly stuff from the then-recent paradyning album (and that stuff is good; mark in stock 90s altrock mode, very solid!) with a flurry of old favs. my pick from the era is "inhaling" and they rock it out for this set. even a sun+moon song! it's in that immediate pre-invincible era, so mark's fascination with beefier britpop-inspired riffs is gearing up.

it can be heard in pieces online, so if you're looking to dig into some ephemera, i've posted it all in one place on youtube. stick around until the end for the even lower-fi "tears" encore! mark's pre-song banter is a very representative moment. for him, not the chams.

― "Don't ask me, I just work here." (Austin), Sunday, 25 May 2025 18:51 (four months ago)

"saviors are a dangerous thing"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wpCUqoV0FY

it's alright.

― "Don't ask me, I just work here." (Austin), Friday, 30 May 2025 13:12 (four months ago)

three months pass...

yup, this is chams by numbers. fine while it's on, but i probably won't play the album front-to-back a second time.

i am a walking sigh after hearing it.

― austinato (Austin), Sunday, 14 September 2025 18:33 (three weeks ago)

Only given it one listen and feel the same but I'll give it more time and see if anything unfolds.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Sunday, 14 September 2025 19:17 (three weeks ago)

two weeks pass...

So I ended up seeing them after all the other night, and I had a lot of thoughts and feelings and they're in this post (along with other recent show doings of mine).

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 3 October 2025 21:23 (five days ago)

On my way to see them tonight

― music for empty-headed zoom-zooms (Bee OK), Saturday, 4 October 2025 01:04 (four days ago)

The oldest crowd for any concert I have ever attended, not sure if I saw anyone under 40 there and that might be generous. I saw The Psychedelic Furs with the Jesus and Mary Chain back in November and even that crowd probably averaged age around 30 with lots of young people.

― music for empty-headed zoom-zooms (Bee OK), Sunday, 5 October 2025 00:14 (three days ago)

And it wasn't sold out and felt bad about that for them.

― music for empty-headed zoom-zooms (Bee OK), Sunday, 5 October 2025 00:15 (three days ago)

It was similar up here, not sold out etc. but at the same time I did definitely see more younger listeners as I noted in my linked post, so I don't know if it was more of a locked-in LA crowd or something. (I *will* say that Wet Leg were also the same night up here and while I'm not really sensing any crossover as such, I wonder if there was a competing show on your end that siphoned off some of that energy.)

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 5 October 2025 00:23 (three days ago)

Totally separately, Aarktica just released their own version of "Second Skin" earlier this week. A definite contrast to the Scooter cover years back:

https://aarktica.bandcamp.com/track/second-skin

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 5 October 2025 00:24 (three days ago)

Wish I saw Wet Leg instead. The opening band The Veldt had six playing guitar with one on bass. Liked what I heard.

I will read your review later Ned.

― music for empty-headed zoom-zooms (Bee OK), Sunday, 5 October 2025 01:03 (three days ago)

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